Corporate
September 28, 2011
Barbara Salabè Named President And Managing Director, Warner Bros. Italy
(September 28, 2011 – London, UK and Rome, Italy) – Barbara Salabè has been named as President and Managing Director, Warner Bros. Entertainment Italy, it was announced today by Barry Meyer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Warner Bros. Entertainment.
Salabè, who will join Warner Bros. on November 7, 2011 from her current role as Managing Director, Stage Entertainment, will be responsible for the general oversight and development of all of Warner Bros.’ businesses in Italy, including theatrical and home video production, marketing and distribution (both Studio and local-language films), television distribution, consumer products, digital distribution and interactive entertainment. In-country divisional management will report jointly to her and to their respective regional and divisional presidents and senior executives. Salabè will report through Richard Fox, Executive Vice President, International, Warner Bros. to Meyer and will work in close partnership with the divisional presidents regarding their specific businesses.
“Barbara has an outstanding reputation in the Italian entertainment industry, and an impressive breadth of experience across a range of sectors, including our sister company, Turner,” said Meyer. “I am confident our Italian businesses will thrive and grow under her leadership.”
“We are thrilled that Barbara will be taking on this key role in our international business. Her outstanding creative instincts, proven business acumen, and impressive industry networks will be hugely valuable across all of our Italian business interests,” said Fox. “She is a gifted entertainment executive, a leader and an innovator, and I’m delighted to welcome her to the Warner Bros. team.”
Since 2007, Salabè has served as Managing Director, Stage Entertainment, responsible for setting up the leading European musical production company’s Italian business, including theatre acquisition and restoration, production, ticketing operations and sales and marketing.
Prior to her tenure at Stage Entertainment, she spent four years as Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Turner Broadcasting System Italia, overseeing the Italian start-up of Cartoon Network and Boomerang, including production, localization, distribution and advertising sales, and acting as President of CNN Italia S.p.A, a joint venture with Gruppo L’Espresso.
She holds a degree in Economics and Business Administration from Ludwig-Maximillians-Universität, Munich, and a diploma from the Universite De La Sorbonne in Paris. She is fluent in Italian, German, French and English.
Salabè will succeed the current President and Managing Director of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Italy, Paolo Ferrari, who retires after an exceptional career in the Italian entertainment industry, spanning almost five decades.###